ODM Governor, IEBC roots for political tolerance in General Election

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has been touched by the political tolerance he encountered in his county when he hosted the NASA Principals on Friday in Kakamega.

It was NASA flag bearer Raila Odinga’s first public rally after he had been cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to contest in the August General Elections.

Oparanya, speaking on phone, has since hailed the political maturity witnessed in his backyard and urged the entire country to follow suit because: “The elections will come and go. We need Peace,” he said.

The move is welcome and seen as a true sign of political maturity after his convoy and that of Jubilee supporters bumped into each other on the streets of Kakamega en route to Bukhungu Stadium. There was no fracas or abuses from either side, despite each clearly donning merchandise illustrating their affiliation to either Jubilee or NASA last Friday.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Deputy Party leader says the region’s voters have the right to select whomever they wanted and will accept their verdict.

“The elections are not about war, it is about choosing a leadership path. It is democracy and whoever wins carries the day, we will support him and the people want to do this in peace. We need Kenya beyond the elections,” he said.

Both sides of the political divide — Jubilee of NASA — must work hard to make their supporters accommodate the outcome of the political contest between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Mr Odinga. According to the Kakamega Governor, the two leaders will square it out in the August 8 polls, but the election means more than just their names on the ballot and Kenyans need to embrace the same.

Scenes like those witnessed in Bungoma where a woman lost her life when supporters of incumbent governor Ken Lusaka (Jubilee) clashed with Ford Kenya’s Wycliffe Wangamati should be shunned. The country needs to be pulling towards scenes like the ones in Kakamega where the supporters were all smiles and greeting each other as they met on the streets.

“There is no leader or cause to die for. Our country’s security is important and we must thus embrace each other,” said Marama West Ward MCA Habil Nanjendo Bushuru.

Already IEBC has warned that the country needs to be sober and tolerant in order to have a peaceful election. The commission is particularly concerned that the electoral process has been politicised, sparking controversy and animosity at the risk of ignoring the tenets of decorum required for peaceful and democratic elections.

A statement from the IEBC said: “The country is witnessing unwarranted grand standing among political players on key issues that touch on the electoral process. This is not helpful and will not be helpful.”

Civic education on peaceful election should start with individual politicians who need to rope in their supporters to endorse the initiative. Kenya belongs to everyone.